Documenting Riveting Documentaries

So, the other night I found myself with a little time on my hands and I decided why not live a little and watch three documentaries back to back…one can’t imagine how much of a task that’s become as I’ve grown older, but I was up to the challenge!

And so it began…Netflix and I started off the night with, Living on One Dollar. According to the tag line, “Four American friends travel to rural Guatemala, where they attempt to exist on a dollar a day for two months to experience life in extreme poverty.” Rated TVPG, it was filmed in 2013 and runs for a total of 56 minutes. The directors include: Zach Ingrasci & Chris Temple.

I found it to be a well thought out and organized investigative journey taken by for well informed young men…young men, who are learning how others cope in a constant state of survival by placing themselves as close as possible in their footprints along their path.

I highly recommend watching this documentary and suggest that it be played in Social Studies classes around the world. Allowing for others to view this on a massive scale and provide a space for dialogue. Discussions that will hopefully inspire change and enact initiatives in order to finally address this worldwide problem impacting all of humanity.

Next up in my queue, Fed Up. “This eye opening documentary examines the underlying causes of childhood obesity, which has become an ever-more serious medical issue in America.” Rated PG, it was filmed in 2014 and runs for a total of 1 hour and 35 minutes. The director is Stephanie Soechtig.

In this documentary, you’re able to learn the science behind the causes of obesity as well as the role the food & fitness industries play in this modern day epidemic. What I’m still trying to figure out is how did this become such an epidemic? But, when one considers the vast changes that have taken place involving our food sources; GMO’s, synthetically flavored ‘things’ created by scientist in the lab – behind lock and key, then perhaps one shouldn’t be so surprised. Furthermore, it’s beyond time that we address how all of this has negatively impacted our growing waistlines in addition to our ever increasing health concerns – that inadvertently, for some lead to taking mouthfuls of medication in order to combat the trials being inflicted upon their bodies aka their temples. Solutions? What do you do in your daily lives in order to maintain an overall balance within your well being?

I decided to close out my night by viewing, Kids for Cash. “Determined to deter kids from crime, a juvenile court judge hands out harsh sentences for trivial offenses, until one parent questions his motives.” Rated PG-13, it was filmed in 2013 and runs for one hour and 41 minutes. The director is Robert May.

To be honest, I simply have no words to describe the sensory overload that overwhelmed me during and after, due to being utterly captivated by this…you’ll just have to trust me and watch it as well as the others that I’ve mentioned above for yourselves.

Please let me know if you’ve watched any of these and share your thoughts in regards to how you they transformed your view of the world we live in. Thanks!